Duke  University  Libraries 

To  our  dead  of 
Conf  Pam  #778 


From  the  Mobile  Evening  News,  June  1th. 


THE  GALLANT  BOYS  OF  FENNER'S  BATTERY. 
We   are  permitted  to  make  the  following  extract  from  a 
private  letter  of  an  oflScer  in  this  battery,  giving  some  of  the 
incidents  of  its  terrible  fight  at  New  Hope   Church,  on   the 
25th  ultimo. 

"  As  you  may  have  inquiries  made  by  friends  of  Brunei 
and  Bridglus,  who  were  killed,  I  will  give  you  some  partic- 
ulars of  their  death.  Corporal  Brunei  was  acting  as  gunner, 
and  was  in  the  very  act  of  sighting  his  gun,  when  he  was 
shot  through  the  head  and  kilhd  instantly.  I  have  no  words 
to  convey  my  admiration  of  his  character  as  a  soldier  and  a 
man.  In  the  camp,  on  the  march,  on  the  field,  his  deport- 
ment was  at  all  times  absolutely  above  reproach. 

"Private  R.  A.  Bridglus  was  one  of  thiee  noble  brothers, 
all  in  the  same  detachment.  He  was  walking  the  trail,  when 
hi!  was  shot  through  the  head,  and  kijled  at  once.  His  next- 
brother  jumped  forward,  took  the  body  in  his  arms,  and 
moved  it  a.side,  and  then  assumed  the  vacant  post,  discharg- 
ing its  duties  with  iutrei)id'  coolness,  till  he,  too,  received  a 
severe  wound  in  the  thigh.  Without  leaving  his  place,  he 
called  for  his  other  brother,  who  was  at  the  limber,  and  held 
his  post  till  replace<l  by  liiui.  The  last  brother  filled  the  post 
till  the  end  of  the  action.  A  finer  instance  of  stoical  heroi)«ni 
1  have  rarely  heard  of." 


To  Our  Dead  of  New  Hope. 

COUfOllAL   W.   iIkLNKT,   PKIVA  rK     K.  A.  BRIDGIN.- 


Th.y  sleep  the  d.-ep  sleep  'ueath  the  sanctified  sod: 

Made  hoary  with  patriot  gore  ; 
rii- y  are  resting  for  aye  in  the  bosom  of  God  ; 
'The  bugle  will  wak.;  them  no  more. 

Xo  ftiore  will  they  thunder  tlieir  wrath  on  the  foes, 

Nor  smile  on  thr-i;  tri^iids  as  of  yore  ;  - 
Hy  Honor's  proud  voice  they  wen'  lulled  to  repose. 

Their  knell  was  the  fierce  battle  roar. 

One  died— he  had  sighted  his  gun  ere  he  fell- 
That  round  was  the  corporal's  last ; 

His  soul  on  the  canister  riished  with  a  y*'\\. 
And  scattered  the  foe  as  it  passed. 

None  braver  in  battle,  in  camp  none  more  kind  ; 

In  tht!  march  and  bivouac  none  so  gay  ; 
Let  him  rest !  In  the  hearts  of  his  friends  he's  ensliriind, 

And  God  Fit-edom's  debt  will  repay. 

Another  was  tending  the  trail — came  the  shot, 

And  buried  itself  in  his  head  ; 
His  biotlier  stretched  out  the  jiale  corpse — uuirmured  not, 

And  stern  took  the  place  of  the  dead. 

He  also  was  struck,  but  unmoved  he  remained. 

At  his  post  like  a  statue  he  stood. 
Till  the  third  brother  came  to  the  ground,  crimsoned  stained 

By  the  flow  of  his  own  kindred  blood. 

'Twas  then  the  young  Spartan,  on  leaving  his  place, 

.To  the  last'of  the  patriot  three, 
said,  "Brother,"  then  looking  him  full  in  the  face, 
"  Give  them  one  for  revenge  and  for  me." 

No  more  need  we  look  in  dead  history's  page, 

Our  souls  with  devotion  to  fire ; 
For  our  eyes  have  beheld,  in  this  country  and  age, 

How  heroes  and  freemen  expire. 

All  honor  and  fame  to  the  good  and  the  brave — 

The  patriot  dead  of  our  band — 
The  martyrs  who  perished  their  country  to  save, 

At  Liberty's  welcome  command. 

Fenner's  Battery. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


